Technology can do a lot of verifying if your new design is 100% ready for production. Software can evaluate shapes for injection molding, it can simulate durability against impact testing, and it can prove if your design is ready for manufacturing. The question is often asked if prototypes are even needed anymore with software and…
You have probably heard the term of ‘additive manufacturing’ if you’ve looked into trends lately. The global market is in the billions for earnings, and many industries have added the type of manufacturing to increase durability and performance of products, manufacture components and assemblies faster, and continue to push the possibilities of new designs. Every…
Over the last decade the manufacturing options for plastic products has evolved from simple plastic injection molding being the only option available. 3D printing has become very common, and in some cases, it is a better option to choose. The hardest part is deciding what components should be injection molded, while the rest can be…
You’re starting on your new idea that will fit a niche in your industry. You have a timeline put down on paper, a complete schedule of when designs end, when tools can begin, and when final production should be ready to ship out. You’ve already started your patent paperwork as well. The one question you…
Having the next big idea is just the beginning of the development cycle. A napkin doodle, a 3D model rendering, or just some great sketches can get the juices flowing, but you have to have a plan to get from that excitement to the market. Cost is always a factor in development, whether that pertains…
It’s hard to watch television or search the internet without seeing someone or something mention the pandemic of COVID-19. It’s in at least one-third of all television commercials. It seems to be in about half of the posts on social media. You can’t escape it. The recurring theme is how much it has affected everyone…
Technology has been a huge benefit to product development since the turn of the century. The time for each development cycle has been reduced thanks in part to software and new equipment, but reduced time does not mean any step in the complete process can be overlooked. One of the key steps in the development…
You’ve thought up the next product in your lineup that will shake up your industry and cause a buzz at the next major trade show. The question is what do you do first, complete the design to the nth degree or start tooling to cut the development time down? The answer may be as…
You have a design ready to go, and now you’re looking for the next step to making your concept into a reality. It’s time to look at a rapid prototype in three dimensions to be able to show customers, new potential investors, and be able to make small adjustments to the design for better manufacturing….